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- 3 - <br /> <br /> <br />— Personal reputation. <br /> <br />— Community pride and confidence. <br /> <br />• Don't underestimate how important it is to a city manager to have a good working <br />relationship with the city council. It has been reported that the relationship with <br />the city council is the primary factor impacting a city manager's job satisfaction. <br />Among the reasons for this are the following: <br /> <br />— City councils are the source of formal performance feedback. Like almost <br />everyone, positive feedback from supervisor(s) is very important. <br /> <br />— City councils control the city manager's job security. <br /> <br />— City councils determine the city manager's compensation. <br /> <br />— City councils establish the city manager's "parameters of success." <br /> <br />— City council support for the city manager, particularly during tough times, is <br />of tremendous value. <br /> <br />Recommended Practices: <br /> <br />So while the stakes are high and the challenges significant, there are a variety of "best <br />practices" and techniques that can improve the odds of your individual success as a <br />mayor or councilmember, as well as the success of the city council and city as a whole. <br /> <br />The following are offered as ideas to consider in your efforts to establish and maintain a <br />strong and effective working relationship with your city manager: <br /> <br />• Recognize that you are now "different" than before you were elected (and more <br />than you may realize): <br /> <br />You are now viewed as a community/city leader and what you do and say can <br />have a much greater impact. Your comments will now be viewed as representing <br />"the city." What you do and say will also be more closely scrutinized. You should <br />be aware that the city staff will view you much differently now that you are one of <br />the organization's leaders. Even an offhand comment can be viewed as a directive <br />for action. So even though you may not view yourself any differently than before <br />you were elected, don't underestimate to what degree others are viewing you <br />differently. <br />4.A. - Page 11 of 21 <br />13